Communicating in Moodle

Two-way communication in Moodle comes in three flavors:

• Real-time, synchronous chat: Moodle's very own built-in instant messaging system (such as MSN), allowing us to talk to students when they (or we) are out of the classroom:

  

• Forums: Just like old-fashioned message boards. You post a question or comment and later on someone posts a response:

  

• Messaging: Don't be confused by the name; the Moodle messaging service allows you to send a message to any other Moodle user. This is different from chat in that it's more like e-mail messaging, rather than being instant messaging. The Moodle messaging system is the online replacement for your staff and student pigeonholes:

  

In this chapter we will not only learn how to set them up, but also the best practice for each in a teaching context. Specifically, in this chapter you will:

• Create a Moodle forum and explore the various ways it can be used.

• Open a chat room, allowing students to talk online in real time. We'll explore the pros...